On Waking

by John O'Donohue


Original Language English

I give thanks for arriving
Safely in a new dawn,
For the gift of eyes
To see the world,
The gift of mind
To feel at home
In my life,
The waves of possibility
Breaking on the shore of dawn,
The harvest of the past
That awaits my hunger,
And all the furtherings
This new day will bring.

-- from To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings, by John O'Donohue

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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

This poem for today...

If you like, consider it a St. Patrick's Day poem, given John O'Donohue's Irish heritage.

I give thanks for arriving
Safely in a new dawn

Or it can be a poem to welcome the dawning of Spring.

For the gift of eyes
To see the world

Or thankfulness for vision and presence in the world.

The gift of mind
To feel at home
In my life.

Or appreciation for self and self-awareness.

The waves of possibility
Breaking on the shore of dawn

Open-hearted anticipation of how each day magically unfolds possibility into reality.

The harvest of the past
That awaits my hunger

And how the past offers itself up to feed the soul that seeks fullness by continuously reclaiming itself.

And all the furtherings
This new day will bring.

For all these reasons, for the advancing stories of our lives, rise each dawn with a smile, with strength, and with thanks!

Have a beautiful day today!








On Waking